Film splicer



Aug. 15, 1950 Filed June 25, 1946 'r. ORDMAN ETAL 2,518,927

FILM SPLICER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. M R Maw BY Patented Aug. 15 195( UNITED I sPLIcER l heod ore OrdmamBrookIyn, and" Howard F. Wt; Ordm'an, New Yorli, N. Y.

Applicati n-fences, 1946, Serial Noe-M9110 5" claims. (01. 154 -421) This invention relates to a: film splices" and more particularly to a device of this character that is semi-automatic in: its operation and pet mits' film splicing to be effected as a continuous operation.

In: splicing. of film, it is' 'ne'cessaryto trim or true the'torn edgesof each torn length; scrape the emulsion from the surface adjacent one of the trued edges;- apply cement to this scraped surface, overlap the other trued edge over the cement-bearing surface and: apply and maintain' pressure to the 1apped film edges until the cement sets. An object of? this invention is to provide a device in which this-sequence of steps will-be efiected simply and quickly inacontinuous operation of a'movingpart.

Another object of. the invention-is to provide simple; easily constructed devices for effecting the foregoingthatmay be manufactured at relativelylow cost.-

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the novel; constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter tobe described and thensought to; be defined in the appended claims, reference being bad tothe aecom panying drawing; forming apart hereof, which shows,- merely for. the purposesofillustrative disclosure. preferred embodiments of the invencan. it being expressly understood," however, that changes may be made in. practice within the scope of the claimswithout digressing from the inventive idea.

Inthedrawing:

Fig; 1 is'a front" elevation of oneform of de vice embodying the invention;

Fig. Zis a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken; along line 3 3 ofFig; 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; I a

Fig. 4' is a vertical section taken along line 4 4 of Fig: 1 and viewed in tlie'direction of the arrows; V

Fig. 5 is a side elevation viewed from theright ofFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a partial" front elevation" of a modified fdrm' ofconstruction; a Fig. 'Tis'a side elevatio'n of' the device of Fig. 6

Fig; 8 is a top plan-vi'ew of the device of Figs. 6 and '7; and

Fi'g'i'9 is s'ectional elevation of film spliced byeither device. a I

Referring to the dr'awing, thebase or table H! has a groove" in which is mounted a sli'clably con cave plate member II that is reciprocally mov means-of the pin and slot connection therewith [2, t3, respectively- This concave plate member I I has upstanding teeth [4 adapted to engage in the 1 perforations in one length L-of thetorn film. Aelongitu'dinally slidable' clampplate l-5 having a" convex portionto fit the 'concave slide H is secured pivotally; to the table Illand serves to clamp the length L of the film to the; concave slidable platemember H; with the teeth M engaginginitsperforations: Theplate l5 is slotted at [511 to receive t-he teeth: M;-

A raised-platform I6 isprovided on table It). This platform has a concave film receiving. groove l t in itsupper face. The height ofthis platform I6 is admeasured so that its-concave groove face lies slightly above thelevel of the upper surface of the: film L secured. by slide plate- H for purposes presently to be described. This concave surface of platform It has longitudinally extending slots H3 in a concave film receiving groove which are positioned to. underlie the film perforations forapurpose that will-become apparent. V v

A longitudinally slidable clamp plate [9 having a convex portion to fit the groove in platform ft'is secured pivotally to thetable Ill and serves to clamp the length M of the torn film inthe concave groove I'll Teeth 20 on the plate. I9 are positioned to enter various of theperforations of the film M when. the; plate [9 is swung into clamping position. and to extend through the film perforations into the slots l8 so that when the plate. l9 isslidllongitudinally its teeth- 20 will cause corresponding movement ofthe film M for a purpose to be described.

The convex slide plate l l is normally urged toward the plate" I91 by a spring 2|, one end of which is fiXed at 22' t0 the table It and the other end of which is guided slidably between the fiXGd guides 23 The clamp plate 9 is normally urged lOngltlldifiafly toward'the slide 1ate' H' by Springs 24 conveniently positioned o'l'l' the pivotsli'aft25 of t e plate is: g a I A pair ofupst'anding brackets 26, 2'1 rotatamy' support a shaft 28 which carries a wheel 29'.

M This wheel has a pair of knife blades 38; 31

mounted'on itsopposite faces and extending outwardly of thewheels periphery. Af serrated or file portion oriabrasive' segment 32 i's'p'rovided' over an" arc'uatelength of the wheels periphery to'one: side'ofthe centralplan'eof the wheel. A radially extending cleaning brush A, extending the full width of wheel 29" on its periphery, lies at "the remote'" end of the portion 3 2i A radially extendingbru'sh 33 is also mounted on' an arcuate able: over thexupperfface ct -the table groove by 55;. lengthcr the'w'heels periphery totne same-orig side of the central plane of the wheel. An elevated spring-actuated pressure-applying surface 34 is also provided along the wheels periphery for an arcuate length thereof and extends preferably the full width of said wheel.

A tank or receptacle 35 having a removable cover 38 is carried on a supporting bracket 3? extending from table Hi. This tank has an outlet end 38 in which a wick 39 is positioned. This wick lies in such relationship to brush 33 that as the latter sweeps past it, it becomes moistened with cement C from within tank 35.

The wheel '29 has a face cam 4|] on which a rod 4| upstanding from the slide plate I operates as a cam follower. This face cam 4| is so arranged as normally to maintain the slide plate I in retracted position away from the wheel 29. v

A similar face cam 42 is mounted on the opposite face of the wheel 29. A pin 43 projecting from the plate I9 operates on this cam 42 as a cam follower. This face cam 42 is so arranged as to maintain the clamp plate |9 normally in retracted position away from the wheel 29.

A transverse slot 44 is provided in the table l through which debris may fall. The curvature of the grooves in slide H and in platform It are complementary with that of the wheel periphery.

The clamp plates l and I9 have spring catches 5|, 52 that are engageable respectively in slots 53, 54 provided on the front face of plate It).

An operating handle 55 extends from the periphery of wheel 29.

In operating the device, the handle 55 is rotated to its rearmost position shown, and the clamp plates l5 and I9 are swung to open position shown. Then the length L of the torn film has its perforations mounted upon the teeth M of slid-e II with the torn end overhanging the inner edge of said slide. Similarly the length M of the film is mounted in the groove I! with its torn end overhanging the inner edge of platform l6. The clamp plate I5 is then swung to closing position as is clamp plate |9, the film M being manipulated so that the teeth 20 of said plate I9 pass through respective perforations of the film M into slots l8. At this time the pins 4| and 43 engage high portions of the respective face cams 40, 42. The handle 55 is then operated to rotate wheel 29. In such operation first the knives 30, 3| respectively sever the torn ends of the film lengths L and M trueing their edges and these severed lengths fall through slot 44. Continued rotation of wheel 29, causes pin 4| to ride into a low-er portion of face cam 40 and spring 2| then acts to shift slide [longitudinally toward wheel 29 and underneath its periphery to a distance equal substantially half its width, namely, to the line of its central plane. Face cam 42 in the meantime is still high maintaining clamp plate IS in retracted position. In further rotation, the serrated or abrasive segment 32 now abrades or removes emulsion from the upper face of film L adjacent its trued end, which is backed by the concave slide whose curvature is complementary to that of wheel 29. Further rotation of wheel 29 causes the brush A to sweep the debris from the face of the abraded end of film L. Then brush 33, which during rotation of wheel 29 has been moistened with cement C by wick 39, sweeps over the abraded end of film L depositing a layer of cement thereon. On completion of this act, further rotation of wheel 29 brings a lower surface of face cam 42 opposite pin 43 causing springs 24 to shift clamp plate |9 longitudinally 7 Figs. 6-4} inclusive.

toward wheel 29 a distance sufiicient for the urn der face of the trued end of film length Vi to overlap the cement covered upper face of film L. Further rotation of Wheel. 29 brings the spring-actuated pressure-applying surface 34 into pressing engagement with the upper face of film' length M pressing it tightly against the cement-bearing surface of film L and maintaining it in this. condition fora time sufficient for the cement'to set. The wheel 29 is then rotated in the opposite direction to clear surface 34 from the spliced film. The clamp plates 5 and i9 are then released and the spliced film removed. Wheel 29 is then returned to its initial position ready for the next film splicing operation.

A modified form of construction is shown in In this embodiment the rotary element is replaced by a longitudinally movable element. Referring to these figures, the base 10 has a longitudinally extending guideway 1| which receives a slide 12 which rests on the shoulders 73 within the guideway and is held therein by the overlapping shoulders 14.

A cam' rod 75 is supported from the base H1 by brackets 16, 11 secured respectively to the base andrto rod 15 at opposite ends of each. A plate member 18 overlies the cam rod 15 and has downwardly depending guide plungers l9 aifixed thereto which extend through openings 89 provided within the slide 12. Springs 8! attached at their opposite ends to the slide 72 and to the plate member 18 tend normally to draw the latter toward the slide 12 to the limit permitted by the cam rod 15. This rod 15 has a portion 15a at a lower elevation than the portion 75 and a second portion 15b at a similar extent of lower elevation relative to portion 75a as portion 15a is with respect 'to'portion 15, the various portions being connected by the inclines 15c, 75d. The forward end of plate member 18 overhangs the portion 15a of the cam rod l5 and has a dependent cam follower 180 that is movable along the upper surface of cam portions 750. and 15b and incline 75d. 7

Plate member 18 has a transversely extending groove 82 in its upper face to receive the torn length of film O and the usual pins 83 which engage within the perforations of the film length 0. Acl-amp plate is hingedly connected at 85 to the plate 18 and may be rotated about its hinge 85 into'an'd out of clamping position. The clamp plate 84 has a laterally extending raised portion 86 that enters into the film receiving slot 82 when the plate 84 is in clamping position serving to clamp the'film O firmly to plate 78. A suitable snap catch 81 serves to maintain the clamp plate 84 in its clamping position. A slot 88 Within the portion 85 receives the pins 83 in the clamping position of plate 84. The raised portion 86 extends laterally of the side edges 84a of the clamp. plate and its end 86a serves as one film shearing edge as will be presently described. I

A knife or shearing member 99 is supported vertically from the base 19 and its shearing edge 90 is adapted to cooperate with the shearing end 86a to true the clamped film length 0 by trimming off its torn edge 0a (Fig-8) when the plate member 18 is moved longitudinally.

A portion 18a of the plate member '18 extends laterally thereof and the underface of this portion 18a is serrated at 78b or otherwise provided with an abrading surface for a purpose presently to be described.

Almifg p.11.shearmsmemberjl attached suitably to the plate T9 in advance of the portion 18a and its shearing edge 92 serves, as will be described, to operate on the other torn length P of film.

A block member 98 is carried by the base 19. This block member has a height only slightly lessthan the height of the underface' of plate Ell-above thebase ID. The inner edge 94a of this block member is so positioned that it 'lies substantially in the same plane as the cutting edge .92 of the knife 91- forming the cooperating shearing .ed'g'e therefor. A transverse guideway 95 is provided on the upper face of block member 94 and has the usual perforation engaging pins 96 to engage the perforations of the film length P. A clamp plate 91 is hingedly attached to the block member 94. This clamp plate 91 has a, slot 98 to receive the pins 99 when in clamping position. A snap catch 99 serves to lock the clamp plate 9l in its clamped position when the film length P has been mounted on the pins 96.

A suitable receptacle I90 is carried conveniently .by a bracket 01 from the plate member 18. The outlet end of the receptacle has a Wick I92 that is positioned to lie just below the level of the upper face of film P for a purpose to be described. Cement C is provided within the receptacle I90. A removable cover N13 is provided for the receptacle. I09.

film lengths O and P must be in perfect align ment when theyare cemented together and that the perforation engaging pins 14 and 29, or B3 and 96 must be sopos'itionedthat when overlap occurs, the film lengths M and 0 lie in relation to the respective film lengths L or P so that the perforations at the splice likewise overlie each other. In the embodiment of Figs. 6 to 8 a suitable set screw [05 functions to insure the alignment of the films at the'splioing position.

The tanks 35 or 100 may be equipped with one way valves V such as tire valves that are opened to permit outward fiow of cement when the wicks 39 or I02 are pressed inwardly by the brush 33 or film P so that cement will be applied as needed to the appropriate film surfaces.

A handle H for reciprocating the slide plate 18 may be provided. This may be replaced by a rack and crank operated gear or other equivalent mechanism if desired.

While specific embodiments have been shown, it is to be understood that variations in structural detail are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention, therefore, of limitation to the exact details shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, means for clamping a torn length of film, means for moving said clamped length of film transversely,

In operating the device, the torn length of film O is. clamped to plate '18 as described with its torn end On overhanging the edge 85a of the clamp plate. similarly the torn length P of the film is clamped to block member 94 as described with its torn edge Pa overlying the shearing edge 94a of the block member. The plate member 18 is then slid longitudinally. The knife edge 90 shears off the torn edge 0a of the film length 0 and the knife edge 92 shears off the torn edge Pa of the film length P, Then the serrated or abrading surface 181) which is of appropriate length to abrade the film effectively removes the emulsion from the upper face of the trimmed film length P adjacent its trued edge and, immediately thereafter the wick I92 applies cement C to the abraded film surface. As this operation is completed, the cam follower 19c moves along incline 1501 to portion 15b of the cam bar 15 while the rear edge of plate 18 moves along the incline 15c onto the portion 150. of the cam bar, the springs 8! functioning to provide this action. When the movement just described has been completed the underface of trued end of film 0 1ying just below the overhanging portion 86 of clamp plate as lies aligned over the cement applied upper face of film length P and is spring pressed against it and held in such pres-sing engagement until the cement C has set. The clamp plates 84 and 9! are then opened and the spliced film lengths O and P shown in Fig. 9 removed from the device. The plate 18 is then returned to its initial position for the next splicing job.

Fig. 9 illustrates the spliced film resulting from the use of either device herein described.

The abrasive surfaces 32 or 18b may, for example, consist of strips of sandpaper or other abrasive paper or material cemented to or removably applied in convenient manner respectively tothe disc 29 or the portion 18a.

If desired, the tank lllll may be omitted and the cement C may be applied manually to the abraded surface Pa of the film length P just after the latter has been abraded.

It is to be understood, of course, that the two means for clamping a second torn length of film, means for severing the torn edges and trueing said clamped lengths of film, mean movable with said first-named clamped length of film for abrading the surface of said second-named length of film adjacent its trued edge, means movable with said first-named clamped length of film for applying cement to the abraded surface, and means for guiding said trued edge of said firstnamed length of film into overlapping and into pressing relationship with said abraded surface.

2. In a device as per claim 1, a longitudinally slidable guide plate to which said first-named clamping means are attached, said abrading means being applied to said plate.

3. In a device as per claim 1, a longitudinally slidable guide plate to which said first-named clamping means are attached, a longitudinallymovable slidable member, tension spring means for drawing said slidable guide plate toward said slidable member, said guide means regulating the extent of their approach during longitudinal motion of said guide plate and said slide member, said abrading means being attached to said slidable guide plate, and said cement applying means also being carried by said slidable guide plate.

4. In a device of the character described, means for clamping a torn length of film, means for clamping a second torn length of film, a movable carriage for one of said two clamped lengths of film, said carriage being movable transversely of the length of said film to a lapping position over the other clamped length of film, means for trueing the torn edges of the clamped lengths of film, during movement of said carriage toward said lapping position, means for abrading a portion of the surface of one of the lengths of film adjacent its torn edge during such movement, and means for pressing a portion of the other length of film adjacent its trued edge against said abraded portion when said carriage has been moved to said lapping position.

5. In a device of the character described, clamping means for a torn length of film, means for moving the clamped length of film transversely, clamping means of a second torn length of film,

severing means for trueing the torn edges of the clamped lengths of film, abrading means movable with said first-named moving means for abrading the surface of said second-named length of film adjacent its trued edge, cement applying means for applying cement to the abraded surface; and guiding means for guiding the trued edge of said first-named length of film into overlapping and into pressing relationship with said abraded surface.

THEODORE ORDMAN. HOWARD F. W. ORDMAN.

8 1 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,121,765 Schultze Dec. 22, 1914 1,324,686 Mitzger Dec. 9, 1919 1,714,605 Leo May 28, 1929 1,734,140 McLaughlin et a1. Nov. 5, 1929 1,734,141 McLaughlin et a1. Nov. 5, 1929 2,231,383 Goldberg Feb. 11, 1941 

